Box lid fastener



1960 v A. CLAUDMANYTLE 2,955,361

BOX LID FASTENER N. MIL 1...;

Filed March 6, 1957 I v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR Z! '36 Arthur Claud-Man'tle BY awwmwf Q ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1960 A. CLAUD-MANTLE ,8

1 BOX LID FASTENER Y Filed March a, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR Hrthur Claud-rlan zle BY fl e M ATTORNEYS Box LID FASTENER Arthur Gland-Mantle, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to The Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Mar. 6,1957, Ser. No.'644,2 36

9 Claims. (Cl. 292-113) This invention relates to fasteners and, while not limited thereto, relates to fasteners particularly useful 'for securing the lids of boxes, especially boxes and like containers used for carrying and storing articles which must be protected from moisture, vapor and thelike. Such containers usually include a lower body part, an upper lid part, and gasket means carried by one of the parts and adapted to provide an effective seal between the parts when compressed by the parts through the action of the fasteners.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener which is especially useful on containers such as described above, and which exerts a resilient downward pull on the lid of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fastener of the type comprising a bracket, a bodily movable bolt assembly for support by the bracket in cluding a carrier member and a bolt member slidable in the carrier member an dspring urged to exert a resilient pull on a retainer, and crank means mountedlin the bracket and having operative means of connection to the bolt assembly to effect bodily movement of the .latter toward the latched and uulatched positions thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid fastener such as characterized above, which may be applied interiorly to the side wall structure of the box for protection by the box itself, and which may be opened and closed by a key member applied exteriorly of the side wall structure.

Still another object is to provide a lid fastener which strongly resists such dislocation of the parts thereof as would efiect springing open or release of the fastener, and which may not be tampered with as easily as some fasteners.

A further object is to provide a fastener which is rugged and will not easily get out of order, which is dependable in service, and which is constituted by relatively few and simple parts.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the fastenerillustrated in the accompanying drawings by way of example.

,In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a container or box equipped with lid fasteners embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the interior of the box illustrating one of the fasteners;

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional view of the sidewall structure of the box illustrating one of the fasteners in operative condition;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lined-,4 .of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. ,4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustratingthe bolt in released position; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the carrier member for the bolt.

*For the protection of instruments, aircraft parts and United States Patent C) i 2,955,861 Patented Oct. 11, 1950 other articles or apparatus requiring protection from moisture, vaporor the like, containers made of metal or othersuitable material have been used, and fasteners have ,been employed with such containers to exert pressure on the container body and lid to compress a gasket or like sealing member therebetween. Heretofore, the fasteners for such containers have, in some instances, been open to certain objections and one aim of the invention is to'provide a fastener free of these objections. A typical containeror box of this kind is shown in Fig. 1 and, as illustrated in this view, the box has a lid which is relatively deep so that it is similar in form to the box body. The box is shown merely by way of example and, by way of example, the box may be equipped at each of its four sides with two fasteners, the parts of which are of anew construction and arrangement and embody the invention. A resilient gasket of rubber or the like is carried by one of the box elements and is adapted to be interposed between the assembled elements and compressed therebetween when and as the fasteners are operated to latchthe lid element to the body element. in the illustrated form, the lid element is provided with a side wall structure which may be aligned and flush with the sidewall structure of the body element, and theresilient gasket, which is generally of oblong form in cross section, extends into grooves formed in the opposing edges of the aforementioned side wall structures.

As each of the fasteners may be identical to every other fastener employed on the box, a description of one. will sufiice. By way of example only, the fasteners are illustrated as applied to the inside of the box, substantially all the mechanism of the fastenersbeing disposed within the box so that even the fasteners are in alarge measure protected by the box. It will be understood that the disposition of a large part of the mechanism of the fasteners within the box tends to protect the mechanism from tampering. Also by way ofexample only, the fastener of the invention is illustrated as having the bolt assembly mounted on the body element for cooperation with a retainer mounted on the lid element. Of course the bolt assembly may be mounted on the lid element. and the retainer may be mounted on the bodyelement, if desired.

Thefastener, as illustrated, comprises a lid-attached retainer constituted by a generally L-shapedbracket having a bolt-engaging leg extending in a plane normal to the side of the lid to which the retainer is applied, the bracket being mounted on the side wall structure of the lid element. The fastener also comprises a bodily movable bolt assembly upwardly extensible from a casing applied to the side wall structure of the body. element, the, bolt assembly including a carrier member and a bolt member slidable in the carrier member and spring urged to exert a resilient downward pull on the lid-attached retainer. The outer end of the bolt is booked and is extensible over said leg of the retainer bracket. The fastener also includes crank means mounted in said casing and having operative means of connection to the bolt assembly to effect bodily movement of the latter toward the latched and uulatched positions thereof. Furthermore, for a general understanding of the illustrated fastener, it maybe pointed out here that the crank means, in addition to effecting vertical displacement of the bolt assembly, effects swinging movement of the bolt assembly toward and away from said leg of the retainer bracket to engage and disengage the latter, the bolt assembly swinging on a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of said leg of the retainer bracket.

In the illustrated form, the L-shaped retainer bracket applied to the lid element is indicated generally at 10, the bolt-engaging leg thereof being indicated at 10 e casing for the bolt assembly applied tothe body element 7 of the bolt assembly 12 isindicated generallyat 15. r

3 Turning now to the details of thefastener shown in the drawings, the other leg of the L-shaped retainer bracket. is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the side wall structure of the lid element. Rivets 10 may be employed for this purpose. The upper edge of the leg 10*- is recessed, as at 10 torcceivethe hooked outer end 13 of'thebolt so that movement of the last-mentioned end of the bolt 13 axially of the leg 10 is strongly inhibited when the bolt'is in the latching position shown in Fig. 3. r

The casing ll from which the bolt assembly 12 is extensible' is preferably formed of sheet metal and includes a base plate 16 having cars 16- by which it may be secured interiorly to the side wall structure of the box body with rivets 17. The attaching ears l6 of'the base plate 16 are interconnected by a web 18 spaced outwardly from the side wall structure of the box body to a slight extent by the ears 16 except in the region of a dished portion '19 of the web 18,-the portion 19 being in substantially abutting relation to the last-mentioned side wall structure; round'and has its center lying substantially in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the bolt-engaging-leg 10 of the retainer, as shown in Fig. 4. A round aperture20 is formed'in the web 18 at substantially the center .of the dished portion 19. v i

The casing 11 also includes a cover plate 21 having a web portion 22 spaced outwardly from the web 18 by integrally formedinwardly extending side flanges 23 of the plate 21 which provide the side walls of the casing 11. j The casing 11 is open at the top and bottom. Each flange 23 is provided with two upwardly spaced lugs 24 which are received in registering slots 25 provided in the web .18 of the base plate, the lugs 24 being bent over at the remote side of the web 18 to secure the cover plate on the base plate. The lugs 24 of each flange23 are bent over in opposing relation to the lugs of the other flange 23 and extend 'into the aforementioned space between the sidewall structure of the box body and the web 18 of the base plate. The dished portion 19 of the web 18 is not located at the center of the last-mentioned web, but 'is' located, as shown in Fig. 4, somewhat below and to the right of the center of the web 18. A sleeve 27 is associated with the base plate 16, the sleeve extending through the side wall structure of the box body and having one end thereof extending through the aperture 20in the base plate. As shown in Fig. 5, the last-mentioned end of the sleeve 27 is spun over to secure the sleeve to the base plate 16.. The other end of the sleeve 27, which projects beyond the side wall structure of the box body to some extent, isithreaded to receive a nut 28 which abuts the last-mentioned side wall structure, as shown in Fig. 5. The nut 28 may be provided with a knurled surface, not shown. I For the purpose of providing clearance and also a detent for the bolt assembly 12, the web 22 of the cover plate is bulged outwardly on an arc, as at 29, formed on a radius of the center of the opening 20 in the base plate 16, and on the same radius is bulged outwardly, as at 30, to provide a boss for detent purposes in spaced relation to the outwardly bulged part 29 provided for clearance purposes, as shown in Fig.. 2 The function of the bulged parts29 and 30 of the cover plate will appear in more "detail hereinafter.

The crank means journaled in the casing 11 and indicated generally at comprises a crank having a shaft portion 31 extending through the sleeve 27 and proj vided with a free end terminating short -of the face of 7 side wall structure of the box body. In the form of the The dished portion 19 of the web is substantialty 7 fastener chosen for purposes of illustration, the crank is operated by a key and for the purpose of receiving a key,

in this instance a hex wrench, the last-mentioned end of the shaft portion 31 is provided with a nonround or hexagonal socket 32 to receive the end of the wrench. Adjacent the other end thereof, the shaft portion 31 is provided with a circumferential groove 33 in which a suitable annular sealing member 34 is disposed for engagement withthe bottom of the groove 33 and the cylindrical wall of the sleeve 27, so that the passage of moisture or vapor into the box between the sleeve 27 and the shaft portion 31 is inhibited It willbe noted (see Fig. 5 that the sleeve 27 fits very snugly in the side wall structure of the box body, and this tight fit inhibits the seepage of moisture or vapor into the box between the last-mentioned side wall structure and the sleeve 27. The shaft portion 31 of thecrank at the other end thereof extends into the carrier member 14 which is generally .(see'Fig. 5) of inverted U shape. At the last-mentioned end of the shaft portion 31 the crank is provided withan oval plate part :34 formed integrally with the shaft portion 31 r and extendingat right angles thereto, the shaft portion 31 being joined to the plate part 34 at one end portion of the latter, as shown in Fig; 6, for example. As shown in Fig. 5, the plate part 34 overlies, to some extent, the inner surface of one arm of the yoke-shaped carrier mcm ber 14. I Between the plate part 34 and the other arm of the carrier member 14 the crank is provided with an integral shaft portion 35 offset from the shaft portion 31 and extending from the plate part 34 at right angles there.- to adjacent the other end portion of the oval plate part 34. 'As shown in the last-mentioned view, the plate part 34 with the projecting shaft portion 35 is closely received 1 having an outwardly projecting stop lug 38 adjoining the surface 37. p p The carrier or yoke member 14is'bcst shown in Fig. 7 and, as illustrated in this view, the member 14 is generally a of invertediU shape; The depcnd-ing'arms 3 9, 40 of the member 14- are interconnected. attheir upper ends by a plate part .41 which is apertured, as at 42, to slidingly receive'the bolt 13. The arms 39, 40, which are of plate-like form, are provided with registering elongated slots -43 intermediate their ends, the slots extending longitudinallyof the respective arms. A spring retainer 44 extends between the arms 39, 40 and into'the slots 43 for sliding movement therein? The retainer 44, which is a-pin of flattened form, extends through a transverse opening 45 in the bolt adjacent the inner end thereof. To facilitate breaching the transverse opening 45 in the bolt, the inner end portion of the bolt is first bored out, as at 47, lengthwise of thebolt a short distance beyond the point at which the transverse opening 45 is subsequently broached. As shown in Fig. 5, the vertical dimensi'on of the pin 44 is only slightly less than the vertical dimension of the opening 45 in the bolt, and the lower edgeof the flattened retainer pin 44 is recessed, as at 45*, to cooperate with the lower extremity of the opening 45 so that in assembling the parts of the fastener, the retainer 44 snaps into 'place'inthe bolt 13. Thisfeature inhibits accidental dislocation of the retainer pin '44 while thefastener is being assembled. The upper'edge of the retainer pin'4 4 bears against the lower end (see Fig. 5)

of a compression spring 46 disposed between the arms 39,40 of the member 14 in embracing relation to the bolt 13, the other endof the spring 46 hearing against the plate part41 of themember 14. The spring is preferably galvanized or plated with-cadmium. It will be understood that the arrangement is such that thespring 46 urges the bolt 13 in a direction to retract the same.

,As indicated in Fig. 5, the arms of the yoke member14 are received with little clearance between the webs 22 and 18 of the casing for verticaland swinging movement .relatively to the casing. As best-shown inFig. .7, the

arm 39 of the yoke member .14 ,is recessed, as at 48, adjacent the distal end thereof, the recess being formed in one side edge of the arm '39 and the other side edge of the'last-mentioned arm being curvedjoutwardly, as at 49. The arrangementis ,such that-when the bolt assembly is in the latched position (seeFigs. 4'and 5) the shaft portion 31 of thecrank is. received within the recess 48. When the fastener-is in the latched .condition, shown in Fig. 5, the pivot and detent pin 36has clearance with the base and cover plates, one peened end of the pin 36 extending into the dished portion 19 of the base plate and the other peened end of the pin 36 extending into the arcuately bulged part 29 of the cover plate. When and as the bolt assembly is moved by the crank from the latched position of Fig. 5 to the released position of Fig. 6, the pivot and detent pin 36 moves along the arcuately bulged part 29 of the cover plate with clearance until reaching the upper extremity of the bulged part 29, at which point the detent pin 36 engages the web 22 of the cover plate and then snaps into the bulged part 30 of boss-like form cooperating with the pin 36 to hold the crank portion 35 in its raised (see Fig. 6) position. It will be-.understood that the crank portion 35 may be moved from its upperposition, shown in full lines in Fig. 6, to its lower position, shown in Fig. 4, by exerting sufficient torque on the crank shaft portion 31 to snap the detent pin 36 out of the boss 30 and back into the bulged part 29 of the casing providing clearance for the pin 36 with the cover plate 21. It will be understood that due to the provision of the dished portion 19 of the base plate the detent pin 36 has clearance with the base plate in all positions of the yoke member 14 and the crank means 15. When the offset shaft portion 35 and the yoke member 14 are in their raised positions shown in full lines in Fig. 6, the yoke or carrier member 14 for the sliding bolt 13 is tipped to the extent indicated in the last-mentioned view and engaged by one of the inwardly extending flanges 23 of the cover plate to limit swinging movement of the carrier member in a direction away from the lid-attached retainer arm 10-. When the carrier member 14 is in the last-mentioned position thereof, the pin 36 is disposed in the detent 30 to prevent the dislocation or inadvertent swinging movement of the member 14 away from the lastmentioned flange 23 which might effect interference of the retainer with the bolt assembly when removing the box lid or replacing it on the box body. This feature is of special importance as the bolt assembly is not mounted on the exterior of the box where it may be seen and grasped with the hand to swing it out of the way of the lid-attached retainer. It may be noted here that when the bolt assembly is moved from the near vertical latched position of Fig. 4 to the unlatched position thereof shown in full lines in Fig. 6, the bolt assembly is swung on the axis of the shaft portion 35 through an arc of less than 30. It will also be noted that when the bolt is in latched position, the bolt is tipped (Fig. 4) from the vertical to a slight extent, the arrangement being such that when the bolt isreleased from the lid-attached retainer, the bolt tends to swing by gravity to the released position shown in full lines in Fig.6.

' When the latching bolt 13 is in the operative position thereof, the hooked end 13 of the bolt overlies the notched arm 10* of the L-shaped retainer bracket and'the bolt is extended relatively to the carrier member 14 to very strongly compress the spring 46 through the action of the-retainer or spring follower 44 carried by the bolt. Infthis positionthe lower end of. the bolt is free. When the latching bolt 13 is in the operative position thereof, the crank portion 35 is over centertsee Fig. 4) andto release the latching boltthe -spring 46 must firstbe further compressed. Thus the fastener strongly resists such dislocation of the parts thereof as would effect springing open or release-of the fastener.

When-the crank is operated to eflfect movement ofthe latching bolt 13 from the latching position of Fig. 4 to the released position thereof, the crank portion 35 effects movement-ofithe carrier'member 14 through the lower end thereof which is pivotally secured to the last-mentioned crank portion, this movement being first a downward movement and then an-upwardmovement. A position of the .carrienmember 14 intermediate the operative and in.- operative positions thereof is shown in broken lines .in Fig. 6. When the carrier member 14 is in the brokenline position of Fig. 6, the-latching bolt 13 remains engaged with the lid-attached retainer, the spring 46 ,remaining under considerable compression and exerting a strong downward-pull on the box lid throughthe bolt 13. When-the latching bolt is in the broken line position'of Fig. 6, the lower end thereof remains free of contact with the seat 37 provided on the shaft portion 35. However, when rotation of the crank in the releasing directionis continued, the crank portion 35 is swung upwardly from the broken-line position of Fig. 6 under the free end of the ,bolt 13 to engage the latter with the seat 37. When the latching bolt 13 has beenengaged by the crank portion 35 in'the manner described above and the rotation of the crank is continued in .the last-mentioned direction, the crank effects bodilymovement of the bolt assembly, the bolt andthecarrier therefor being moved-as a unit to the released or inoperative position thereof. It will be understood thatthe latching bolt tends to have'no movement relatively to the carrier therefor after the bolt is picked up by the crank portion 35, and thatthe crank is swingable relatively to the carrier member only when the bolt is not fully seated on the flat portion 37 of the crank. It may also be noted that when and as the crank picks up the latching bolt, the spring retainer 44 is disposed intermediate the ends of the slots 43 formed in the carrier member and the spring 46 is maintained under some degree of compression. It will be understood that the spring 46 remains under this compression while in the inoperative or released position of the latching bolt, shown in Fig. 6. Thus, the action of the spring 46 in this position of the 'bolt tends to maintain the ,bolt firmly seated on the shaft portion 35. When the latch ing bolt is in the last-mentioned position thereof, the carrier member 14 is engaged with said one of the flanges 23 of the casing, and the lug 38 formed on the crank portion 35 is engaged with the side of the latching bolt to prevent further rotation of the crank in the lastmentioned direction thereof.

The operation of the fastener to latchthe lid to the box body will be manifest from the foregoing. During initial movement of the *latching bolt from the unlatched position thereof toward the latched position, the bolt and the carrier therefor are swung toward the lid-attached retainer; the bolt, the carrier member and the crank all being rigid with one another. The bolt is not disengaged from the crank until after the bolt has been extended over and engaged with the lid-attached retainer. Thereafter, continued movement of the crank in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) effects downward sliding movement of the carrier member on the bolt to further compress the spring interposed between the carrier member and the bolt. When the carrier member has been swung all the way from the full-line position of Fig. 6 to the latched position thereof shown in Fig. 4, further swinging movement of the carrier is prevented by engagement of the crank portion 31 in the recess 48 of the-carrier member. When the latching bolt is engaged with thelidattached retainer and operative to exert a strong downward pull on the latter, the spring retainer 44 occupies aposition 7 intermediate'theends of the slots 43 formed'in the carrier member 1 4,"asshownin'Fig.*5; e a "-filrr aceordanee with the foregoing-disclosure, there is provided an improved fastenebwhich is especially useful on containers such as described above, and which exerts a resilient downward pull on the-"lid of the-container to compressa'rubber-like gasket between the body and lid of the container; There is provided an improved fastener of the type comprising a bracket, a'bodily movable bolt assembly for support by the bracket, including'a carrier member and a bolt member slidable in the carrier memher and spring urged to exert'a resilient downward pull on a box lid, and crankfmeans'mounted in the'bracket andhavingoperatiVe means of connection to the bolt assembly to efiec't'bodily' movement of the latter toward the latched andunla'tched positions thereof. There is also provideda fastener whichis admirably suited ,for connection to a box structure interiorly thereof so as to have substantially all of the mechanism thereof disposed Within the box. And there is also provided a fastener such as characterized above, which may be easily operated by a key, such -as a hex wrench, for example. It may be noted here that in the form illustrated in the drawings,- the key-operated-crank is rotated through an arc of approximately 150 to release or latch the bolt mechanism. As indicated above, there is also provided a fastener which strongly resists such dislocation of the parts thereof as would effect springing open or accidental release of the fastener, and there is also provided a fastener theconstruction and arrangement of which inhibits tampering with the mechanism thereof. Furthermore, there is'provided a fastener which is rugged and will not easily get out of order, which is dependable in service, and which a is constituted by relatively few and simple parts.

7 While only oneform of the fastener hasbeen illustrated and described above, it will be apparent that the fasteneris susceptible of various modifications and changes in details without departing from the principles of the invention and the scope-of the claims.

7 What I claim is: a

I. In a fastener for a box constituted by a lid element and a body element each having a side wall structure and adapted to engage a retainer fixed to the interior of the side wall structure of one box element and projecting into the interior of the box the combination of a base plate fixed to the interior of the side wall structure of the other box element and having a web portion, a cover plate interiorly of the box and having a web portion in fixedrelation to the base plate," one of said plates having side flanges spacing'the web portion thereof from the web portion of the other plate to thereby provide a casing, a bodily movable bolt assembly closely received between said web portions and extending out of the casing toward the retainer intermediate said side flanges, the bolt assembly including a'carrier member and a retainer-engaging bolt member slidable in the carrier and spring urged to exert a resilient pull on the retainer, and crank means extending through the side wall structure of the lastmentioned box element for operation exteriorly of the box, the crank means comprising a shaft having a portion thereof extending through the base plate and mounted fon'riontrans'latory movement therein, the shaft having an olfset portion within the casing carrying a pin longitudinally thereof extending through the carrier member and mounting the latter in pivotal relation to the crank means, said pin cooperating with detent means on one ofsaid webportions of the casing to releasably secure said crank in one angular position thereof, said offset shaft portion being engageable with the bolt member to efiect movement of the latter in the retainer-releasing direct-ion, and the bolt assembly when in released position being engaged by one of said side flanges of the casing to limit swinging movement of the assembly away from the retainer, said'de'tent position of the crank inhibiting movement of the latter inthelatching directionrwhen the 3.-A fastener" as defined in claim 1, wherein the offset.

shaft portion is provided with a seat for the bolt member and is also provided with a lug engageable with the side of the bolt member to' limit swinging movement of the crank in a releasing direction when the bolt assembly is engaged with said oneof the casing flanges.

r 4. In a fastener for cooperating with retainermeans, the improvement comprising detent means, casing means including a stop wall, a bodily movable bolt assembly partially housed by the casing'and'extending outwardly toward the retainer, thebolt assembly including a carrier member and a retainer-engaging bolt'member slidable in the carrier and being spring urged to exert a resilientpull" on the retainer, crank mea'ns including a shaft having an offset portion within the casing carrying a pin longitudinally thereof extending through the carrier memberand mounting the latter in pivotal relation to the crank: means, said pin contacting the detent means to releasably secure said crank in one angular position thereof,

said offset shaft portion being engageable with the bolt 7 toward the retainer, the bolt assembly including a carrier member and a retainer-engaging bolt member slidable in the carrier and being spring urged to exert a resilient pull on the retainer, crank means including a'shaft having an olfset portion within the casing carrying a pin longitudinally thereof extending through the carrier member and mounting the latter in pivotal relation to the crank means, said offset shaft portion being engageable with the bolt member to effect movement of the latter in the retainer-releasing direction, the bolt assembly when in released position being engaged by the stop wall of the casing to limit swinging movement-of the assembly away from the retainer, and the carrier member being formed in a U shape and having one arm thereof recessed to receive and engage the shaft to thereby limit rotation of the crank in the latching direction when the bolt member is engaged with the retainer.

6. In a fastener for cooperating with retainer means, the improvement comprising detent means, casing means including a stop wall, a bodily movable bolt assembly partially housed by the casing and extending outwardly toward the retainer, the bolt assembly including a carrier member and a retainer-engaging bolt member slidable in the carrier and being spring urged to exert a resilient pull on the retainer, crank means including a shaft having an offset portion within the casing carrying a pin longitudinally thereof extending through the carrier member and mounting the latter in pivotal relation to the crank means, said offset shaft portion beingengageable with the bolts member to elfect movement of the latter in the retainer-releasing direction, the bolt assembly when in released position being engaged by the stop wall of the casing to limit swinging movement of the assembly away from the retainer, and the offset portion being provided with a seat for the bolt member and also provided with a lug engageable with the side of the bolt member to limit swinging movement of the crank in a releasing direction when the bolt assembly is engaged with the stop wall.

7. In a fastener adapted to be secured to a box body and cooperate with retainer means secured to a box lid, the improvement comprising a crank member having a shaft portion and a pin portion offset from the crank portion, means mounting the shaft portion rotatably on a wall of the box body below the retainer means, a carrier member pivotally mounted on the pin portion of the crank member, a bolt member slidable on the carrier member for engaging the retainer means, -a spring acting between the carrier member and the bolt member to urge the bolt member downwardly relative to the carrier member, means limiting pivotal movement of the carrier member relative to the box body, and means carried by the crank member and operative when the crank member is rotated beyond a predetermined position thereof for engaging the bolt and hold the bolt against downward movement relative to the carrier member and for holding the bolt against pivotal movement relative to the crank member while the crank member is beyond said position.

8. The combination of claim 7 including means sealing the crank to said wall of the box body and permitting rotation of the crank relative thereto.

9. In a fastener assembly for attachment to the interior of a Wall of box body to engage a retainer member on the interior of a wall of a box lid to fasten the lid to the box body, the improvement comprising a crank member rotatable on a predetermined axis, normal to said wall of the box body and having a. pin parallel to and offset from said axis, the crank being accessible from the exterior of the box body, a carrier pivotally mounted on the pin of the crank for movement in a plane parallel to said wall of the box, a retainer-engaging bolt member mounted 'slidably on the carrier, compression spring means acting on the carrier and the bolt member to urge the bolt member downwardly, the crank serving to move the carrier and the bolt member upwardly relative the retainer member when rotated from a latching position thereof to a releasing position and also serving to move the carrier and the bolt member downwardly relative to the retainer member when moved from the releasing position to the latching position thereof, and pushing means carried by the crank for pushing the bolt member upwardly relative to the carrier during unlatching rotation of the crank to disengage the bolt member from the retaining means, the pushing means serving when engaged with the bolt member to hold the bolt member against pivotal movement relative to the crank so as to swing the bolt member into engagement with the retaining means when the crank is rotated in a latching direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,931,850 Moore Oct. 24, 1933 2,704,218 Claud-Mantle Mar. 15, 1955 2,751,240 Gland-Mantle June 19, 1956 

